How to find a job abroad?

Pick the country

You have to pick a country taking into consideration the following parameters:

Economic situation:

is it easy to find a job there? Read the news, surf the web and ask people who live in the countries you like how they find the situation on a daily basis. It can be people you know who moved to these countries or people you meet through forums for foreigners. It should give you a pretty good idea of what to expect. Remember, sun and parties are not enough! Picking a destination that makes you dream is cool but won’t be that cool if you are unemployed! You need to be sure there are jobs there and that you will be able to get one.

Career opportunities:

Are there career opportunities that match both your profile and your expectations? The best way to know it is to have a look at recruitment agencies’ websites and online recruitment platforms. It will give you a good overview of the employment market. You can also contact a few recruitment agencies to ask them how easy it would be for you to get a job there. Use and abuse of social network websites such as LinkedIn, Viadeo and Xing. Connect with people and recruiters who work in the country you are planning to move to. Networking is the key strategy!

Cost of living:

is life very expansive? You will find very good articles on the web that will give you detailed information about each country. You need to look into house prices, rental prices, and daily expenses such as food, transportation, health and insurance. Find out the salary bracket for the kind of role you would be looking for and see if you would be able to afford your expenses and live comfortably. We also recommend you to get information on the tax system and see what the difference would be between your gross and your net salary.

Culture and local customs:

Do I like the way people live in this country? Once again, contacting someone who lives there might a good idea. You need to be sure you will feel comfortable and that you will adapt to the culture without feeling that you are making too much of an effort. It is important that you feel comfortable there as it is going to be your ‘home’ for a while.

Be proactive in your job search

The best scenario would be to find a job before moving there. Find out the way CVs have to look in the country and update yours. Send it to recruitment agencies, upload it on online recruitment platforms and update it on the networking websites. Look for job offers on a daily basis and apply to the ones you are interested in. Spread the word around you. Let people know that you are relocating to this country. They might refer you to a recruiter or give you some good tips to find a job. If you are relocating and haven’t found a job yet, follow the same advice.

Have enough money to support yourself for a while

Make sure you have enough money to support yourself for the first few months, especially if you don’t already have a job lined up. It might take longer than you think to find employment.

Practice the local language as much as you can before going

As soon as you know where you are moving, you need to seriously look into learning the language if you don’t speak it already. Watch TV series and movies in the local languages, with subtitles if needed, to get familiar with the sounds and the pronunciation. Signing up for a class might also be a good option. This will boost your progress and give you confidence.

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